AAO members are urged to ask Congress to support legislation expanding access to medically necessary care for patients with congenital anomalies.
In recognition of National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness Month, the AAO is joining dental, medical and patient advocacy organizations in the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act Coalition (ELSA) in a renewed push to pass the ELSA before the 119th Congress ends on January 3, 2027.
ELSA would help close a critical coverage gap for patients born with congenital anomalies, such as cleft lip and palate. Although many states require coverage for medically necessary treatment of congenital anomalies and related missing or defective body parts, insurers may still deny claims when the affected body part is the teeth. The bipartisan legislation would clarify that health plans must cover medically necessary treatment involving the teeth, mouth, jaw, eyes or ears, including essential dental and orthodontic care.
For patients with craniofacial conditions, orthodontic treatment is often time-sensitive and integral to the broader course of care. It can support successful bone grafting and orthognathic surgery, prepare patients for full-mouth rehabilitation, and improve their ability to eat, speak and smile.
ELSA has strong bipartisan momentum, with 50 Senate cosponsors and 168 House cosponsors. It is being championed in the Senate by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) and in the House by Representatives Kim Schrier (D-WA) and Neal Dunn (R-FL). However, continued grassroots engagement will be critical to moving it across the finish line this Congress.
The American Association of Orthodontists has been a longstanding member of the ELSA coalition, and we are pleased to join the coalition and other advocacy groups during the ongoing Grassroots campaign blitz in July and August. It is vital for Congress to pass ELSA in the 119th Congress – and if it is not passed before January 3, 2027, the legislation will need to be introduced again in the 120th Congress.
AAO members are encouraged to contact their lawmakers and ask them to cosponsor ELSA or thank them if they have already signed on.
“Medically necessary orthodontic care is integral to achieving the best possible outcomes for patients with craniofacial conditions,” said Dr. Ana M. Mercado, chair of the American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association Advocacy Committee and an AAO member advocate. “Our involvement can help restore function, build confidence and give these patients the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.”
The AAO has joined a broad coalition of national health care professional and patient advocacy organizations to support this legislation and this legislation has been a member-requested priority for the AAO for many years. ELSA passed the House of Representatives in 2022 but did not make it past the finish line. We are hopeful that the list of cosponsors will grow and ELSA can move forward this Congress!
The American Association of Orthodontists, through collaboration with the AAO Foundation, would like invite you now to consider making a valuable donation to the AAO Foundation Craniofacial Growth Legacy Collections Project. This database makes representative materials from participating collections available to clinicians, craniofacial researchers, students of human growth and interested members of the public for viewing, study and further research. Your support today, in recognition of the important work in the world of craniofacial research and policy issues, would be immeasurable.
You can read more HERE.
AAOPAC is the only political action committee dedicated exclusively to representing orthodontists and their patients. Through its bipartisan approach, AAOPAC builds relationships with lawmakers who champion the AAO’s priorities and help advance policies that strengthen the future of the specialty.
Make your 2026 AAOPAC contribution today at AAOPAC.org using your AAO member email address. Members contributing $250 or more will receive an invitation this October to join the AAO in advocating for policy priorities, including ELSA, at the Professional Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C. March 8-9, 2027.
